Boston @ New Jersey preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 19, 2019 ) Boston 5, New Jersey 1

The Boston Bruins managed to survive their worst rut of the season and are still maintaining a double-digit lead atop the Atlantic Division. The Bruins go for their fourth consecutive victory overall and look to complete a three-game season sweep of New Jersey when they close out the 2019 calendar year with a visit to the Devils on Tuesday afternoon.

Jake DeBrusk scored twice in a span of 18 seconds as Boston extended its winning streak to three following a 1-4-4 swoon by completing a home-and-home sweep with a 3-2 victory over visiting Buffalo on Sunday. "It was nice to get the two goals there," said DeBrusk, who responded in a big way after coach Bruce Cassidy benched him in the first period versus the Sabres. The Devils have been outscored 14-2 in losing four straight to the Bruins but they enter Tuesday's matchup on a three-game point streak (2-0-1). "The team's playing better, for sure, and we're hungry for points right now," said Jack Hughes, the No. 1 overall pick in this year's draft. "We want to climb in the standings. We're not happy where we are."

TV: 1 p.m. ET, Sportsnet, TVAS, NESN (Boston), MSG (New Jersey)

ABOUT THE BRUINS (24-7-9): Boston will be minus three defensemen Tuesday as Charlie McAvoy (lower body) joined Torey Krug (upper body) on injured reserve Monday while Connor Clifton did not practice after exiting Sunday's game. The Bruins also will be without second-line center David Krejci (lower body), who did not travel with the team. David Pastrnak, the league leader with 29 goals after scoring once and setting up another tally Sunday, is riding a seven-game point streak and also scored twice at New Jersey on Nov. 19.

ABOUT THE DEVILS (13-19-6): New Jersey scored twice on the power play for the first time since Nov. 16, with defenseman Sami Vatanen collecting two of his three assists on the man advantage. "He's got a shooting mentality," interim coach Alain Nasreddine said. "I know we've talked about this a lot lately, but he's one guy that truly believes it, and on the power play, you've got to shoot." Hughes also collected an assist on a power-play tally before scoring the game-winner in overtime for his first multi-point game since Nov. 7.

OVERTIME

1. Boston scored at least a power-play goal in seven straight games after notching only one in its previous six.

2. Devils F Kyle Palmieri, who leads the team in goals (15) and points (27), was named an All-Star on Monday.

3. Bruins G Tuukka Rask beat New Jersey twice this season but G Jaroslav Halak will get the start Tuesday.

PREDICTION: Bruins 4, Devils 2